Shock-absorbing device



Dec. 1, 1931.

G. FLNTERMANN SHOCK AAsoRBING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 28, 1929 BY av." Znqa; w

ATTQRNEYS DeC- l, 1931- v G. FLlNTl-:RMANN SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE Fiied Maron 28, 1929 3 Sheets-sheet 2 g t ,MJ y y noem oz Dec. 1, 1931. G. FLINTERMANN 1,834,450

SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE l l Filed March 28, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR @mk QMYZ wm ATTORNEYAS l atented Ecc. l, 193i i ENT FFICE @aankan rLm'rEnAN, or WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY encon-assonanza DEVICE Application filed March 28, 1929. Serial No. 350,468.

rll`his invention relates to devices capable of detachable plug member designed for use being imposed between two objects or parts with the socket of the shock-'absorbing device thereof, for absorbing shocks, 4for deadening and adapted to be attached to some object; the transmission of sounds and for permitting 4 Fig. 2 shows the parts of Fig. l in assema limited relative movement between the two bled relation and attached to two ob'ects be- 55 members while at the same time resiliently tween which the shock-absorbing evice is opposing such movement. used. Y

The principal object of the invention is to Fig. 3 corresponds with Fig. 2, but drawn provide such a device which is so constructed 'to a smaller scale, and shows the parts of Fig.

that it can be manufactured in large numbers 2 in inverted relation;

at a very low cost and which is so designed Fig. 4 corresponds with Fig. 2 and illusthat it is capable of many diderent uses and trates how the plug of the outer sheet metal applications. member may be used in connection with a de- 'lhe device comprises a body of non-metaltachable socket adapted to be attached to lic resilient material'such as rubber, in the an object;

form of a perforated disk. A sheet metal Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing how tubular member is inserted into the perforatWo or more of the shock-absorbing devices tion and clamped to the inner edge portion can be superposed and used if desired in conof the disk, while a second sheet metal memnection with a detachable plug member of ber is clamped to the peripheral edge portion the kind s'hown in Fig. l;

of the disk. Both members are designed with Fig. 6 is a Vertical section showing how the a view toward simplicity of construction, shock absorbing device can be used in conneccheapness of manufacture, ease of attaching tion with detachable plug and'socket memthem to the disk Iof resilient material, and bers of modified construction;

ease ofattaching them to the objects in con- F ig. 7 is a plan view of the detachable plug 75 nection with which the device is to be used. member shown in Fig. 6;

The device may be made small enough to Fig. 8 is a plan View of 4the detachable serve as` a resilient shock-absorbing and socketmember. shown in Fig. 6; sound-deadening support for' a typewriter or Fig. 9 is a plan view of a further modified the like and when made in that size has many form of detachable plug member; 80 other uses. The inner and outer sheet metal Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on the members are preferably so formed that 3one line 10-1'0 of Fig. 9; provides a socket and the other a plug so that Fig. 11 is an end view of the detachable two or more devices may be superposed by plug member shown in Fig. 9;

inserting the plug of one into the socket of Fig. l2 is a plan view showing how the inthe other, 0I' ifhe SQCket 0n 011e member may ner members of a number of shock-absorbing be used 1n con]unct1on with a detachable plu units may be formed from one Strip of mateadapted m be attached to 59mg eblect an rial While the outer members are likewise .hkewlse the phigf the devlce may be used formed from one strip of material; 2,0 1n connectlon wlth a detachable socket adapt- Fig 13 is a longitudinal section taken on f edto be attached to some object. Further th 1. 13 13 of Fi 12, features of construction enable the device to pineli is a transvee section taken on the be attached to the ob]ect wlthout the use of line 1,1 14 of Fig. 12;

a detachable plug or Socket ofthe kl-nd Just. Fig. 15 is 'a vertical section illustrating 95 mentioned.

Several forms of the device are disclosed in 110W the Structure of 'Flgs' 12v 13 and 14 can the accompanying drawings, in Whichz- `be 'used -inconnection with a detachable Fig. 1 isa vertical section, on an enlarged Socket member; g

scale, of a device constructed in accordance. Fig. 16is a view slmilar to Fig. 15showwith the invention, this figure also shwing a ing how the structure of Figs. 12, 13 and 14 100 can be used in connection with a detachable plu member;

Fig. 17 is a view corresponding with Fig. 13 and shows how the metal strip out of which the outer members are formed can be crimped in order to bring the shock absorbing units closer together;

Fig. 18 is a transverse section taken on the line 18-18 of Fig. 17

Fig. 19 is a side elevation showing ainodfication of the plug and socket on the shocka-bsorbing device and showing a detachable plug and a detachable socket adapted for use in connection therewith;

Fig. 2O is a plan view of the detachable plug shown in Fig. 19;

Figs. 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 are vertical sections of modified forms of shock absorbing devices embodying the invention.

The improved shock-absorbing device shown in Fig. 1 comprises a disk 1 of nonmetallic resilient material such as rubber. It has a central perforation to receive the neck portion 2 of an inner sheet metal tubular member 3. The inner edge portion of the disk 1 is gripped between a shoulder 4 formed on the sheet metal member 3 and a washer 5 over which the edge portion of the neck 2 is turned as shown at 6. The outer extremity of the sheet metal member 3 is so formed as to provide a socket 7.

The outer edge portion of the disk 1 is gripped by an outer sheet metal member 8. This member has a shoulder 9 so that the outer edge of the disk may be gripped between this'shoulder and the inturned edge portion 10. In order that the inturned edge portion 10 need not be turned inwardly to -`'such an extent as to cause crimping or fullness in the metal the corner of the disk 1 is preferably left off so as to provide a bevel 11 into engagement with which the bent edge 10 is pressed. The outer sheet metal member 8 is so formed as to provide a plug 12, whose outside diameter is about equal to the inside diameter of the socket 7. The outer sheet metal member 8 also has a bulge 13 to provide a clearance which permits movement of the inner member without danger of contact between the inner and outer members in normal operation of the device. Thel end wall of the plug 12 is provided with a perforation 14 for the purpose hereinafter described.

The invention also contemplates a detacha-ble plug member 15, also formed of sheet metal, and of such a size that it may be snugly received by the socket 7 of the shock-absorbing device. The plug 15 has a base portion 16 adapted to rest upon a flat surface of some object in connection with which the shock-absorbing device is used. The central portion of the 4plug 15 may be depressed as shown at 17 and provided with a perforation 18 to receive a screw, bolt or the like represented at 19.

One way in which the shock-absorbing device illustrated in Fig. 1 may be used is to fasten the plug 12 to one of the objects 2() (Fig. 2) between which the device is to be interposed as by means of a screw 21 inserted through the perforation 14. rIhe central opening in the inner sheet metal member 3 permits a screw driver to be inserted into the device to turn the screw 21. The detachable plug member 15 maybe attached, by means of the screw 19, to the other object 22. This method of using the shock-absorbing device may be an advantageous one in connection withtypewriters or the like where the object 22 represents one leg of the typewriter and the object 2O represents the typewriter desk. One of the plug members 15 should be attached to each leg of the typewriter and a shock-absorbing device attached to the desk at each corresponding point. The typewriter may be quickly and easily positioned on its shock-absorbing devices and may be easily lifted oii' of them as the plug` members 15 merely rest in the sockets 7 and are readily detachable from them. When the typewriter is in place it is'held firmly against sliding movement as the outer' members are fastened rigidly tothe typewriter desk by means of the screws 21. The disk 1 serves as a resilient bridge between the inner' and outer members and permits limited axial movement of the inner member relative to the outer member and at the same time yieldingly opposes this movment. It absorbs the shocks and deadens the transmission of sound from the inner member to the outer member. Unlike most of the shock-absorbing devices now used in connection with typewriters, no part of the rubber or other resilient material rests upon the supporting object 20.

The preferred size of the device is that which adapts itfor use in connection with a typewriter so that Figs. 1 and 2 are somewhat exaggerated as to the size of the device but these views were enlarged to more clearly show the details of construction. In Fig. 3 the device is reduced to the actual size which it should have when it is intended for use in connection with a typewriter. In this figure the plug 12 of the outer member is shown attached to the typewriter leg 22 by means cfa screw 23 while the detachable plug member 15 is attached to the typewriter desk 2O by means of a screw 24. In other words, the parts shown in Fig. 2 are inverted. In this arrangement when the typewriter is removed from the desk the shock-absorbing devices rcmain attached to the legs of the typewriter Vwhile the plug members 15 remain attached to the desk 20. If desired, the screws 24 may be omitted so that the plug members 15 lmay slide on the desk 20. Vhile this may not be advisable when the -device is used in connection witha typewriter nevertheless it may be advisable when the device is used in other relations. The plug member 15 will then act somewhat in the nature of the small sliding domes now in common use and which are attached to the legs of a chair, desk or rsame density or may have diiii'erent densities the like, to permit them to slide freely and noiselessly upon the floor.

Fig. 4 shows the plug member 15 attached to one ofthe objects 22 while the other ob ject 20 has a sheet metal socket member 25 secured to it. The socket of the member 25 is of such a size that it snugly receives the plug 12 of the outer sheet metal member. When the shock-absorbing device is used in this way it is entirely detachable from both objects.

Two or more ofthe shock-absorbing devices may be superposed. This is illustrated in Fig. 5 which shows two of thev shock-absorbing devices, the plug- 12 of one being inserted into the socket 7 of the other. The plug of the other device may be attached to one of the objects by means of a screw21or through the intermediary of a socket of the kind shown at 25 in Fig. 4, while the socket of the other device may be attached to the other object by the use of a plug member 15 and screw 19 as inFig. 2. When the devices are used in this manner the rubber out of which the disks 1 are made may have the to give the composite structure some desirable culiar action. Or this action may be Eought aboutby making the disk of one device of a different thickness from that of the other device.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show detachable plug and socket members of modified construction. The plug member shown in the upper part of Fig. 6,`and in Fig. 7, may be lformed from a sheet of metal 26 by stamping or drawing, in one portion of it, a projection 15 which forms the plug for cooperation with the socket 7 of the shock-absorbing device. Another part of the metal sheet 26 may be perforated asshown at 27 to .enable it to be secured to one 'of the objects by means of screws or the like. The'socket member shown in the lower part of Fig. 6, and in Fig. 8, may comprise a sheet of metal 28 having a de-y pression 29 stamped or .drawn in it to form a socket for cooperation with the plug 12 of .the shock-absorbing device.

l The sheet 28 may have a second depression 30 formed in it of a smaller size than the depression 29 so that the plate or sheet 28 may be turned'upside .down and the projection 31-formed in the act of depressing the metal at 30-maybe used as a plug member for cooeration with the socket 7 of the shock-absor ing device. In other words, when the plate 28 is in one 'position it forms a socket member and when turned upside down it forms a plug member so`that it may be used for either ofI these purposes as occasion re uires. The plate 28 may be attachedto its o ject by fastening devicesl such as screws or the like inserted through perforations 32.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate 'a modification 70 of the pli member shown in Fig. 7. lt is designed ior use where it is desired to attach it to a surface which is at right angles to the axis of the plug. It is quite similar to the plug member shown in Fig. 7 except that the part of the sheet metalplate which is perforated-as at 33-or the fastening devices, is bent at right angles to that portion of the plate which is provided with the plug as shown at 34.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 show a number of inner members formed integrally with a plate or place in its depression 37 by means of a sheet metal annulus 39 which partly overlaps the outer edge portion of the disk of resilient ma terial and which is provided withv a series of prongs 40 inserted through `corresponding perforations in the strip 36 and then crimped over to lock them to this strip. The ,outer edges of the strip 36 may be bent downwardly as shown at 41 in Fig. 14 and then horizontally as shown at 42. The horizontal portions 42 may have perforations 43 to enable the strip 36 to be 'fastened directly to one of the objects by means of screws or vthe like should this be desired. The other strip 35 may have perforati-ons 35 which enable it to be attached directly to the otherl object by tions of the sheet'metal strip 36 may be used i in connection with sockets 44 formed in a sheet metal strip 45 adapted to be attached to one of the objects as shown in Fig. 15, and

the sockets of the strip 35 may be used in connectlon with plugs 46 formed on a sheet of metal 47 adapted tov be fastened to one of the objects as shown in Fig. 16.

On account of the amount of drawing that is 'necessary to form each lset of depressions f 37 and 38 -in the strip 36 these depressions cannot be formed too near theI adjoining set of corresponding depressions. `If it is'desired to have the disks of rubber lclose t0- i the strips may be subsequently shaped and' trimmed to the proper width. The forms of the device shown in Figs. 12 to 18 inclusive may be used wherever it is desired to use a number of resilient disks and where the conditions do not require the use of separate and individual devices of the kind shown in the other figures.

ln Figs. 19 and 2O the socket part 7 of the shock-absorbing device is provided with a pluralityT of bayonet slots, one of which is shown at 49, to ieceive projections formed on the detachable plug member 15". The plug portion of the shock-absorbing device may be threaded as shown in 51 to cooperate with corresponding threads 52 formed in the detachable socket member 25. Figs. 19 and 2() are intended to show the various modifications that are possible in the construction of the plug and socket on the shock-absorbing device and in the con-r struction of the detachable plug and detachable socket.

The device shown in Fig. 21 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 except that between the shoulder 4 and the vertical wall of the socketthere is an inclined portion 53. In the operation of the device during axial downward movement of the inner member more and more of the inclined portion 53 comes in contact with the resilient material 1 and this serves to gradually increase the opposition to the movement. rlhe relation between tlie parts is preferably such that after a pait of the inclined surface 53 has come in contact with the resilient material 1 further aXifl movement of the inner member will tend to compress the resilient material.

'This is accomplished by having the outer diameter of the inclined shoulder 53 greater than the inner diameter of the shoulder 9 so that they partly overlap. llVlien the overlapping portions of the shoulders are effective it is obvious that the resilient material between them will be compressed.

ln Fig. 22 this same result is accomplished by inserting between the shoulder 4 of the inner member and the resilient material 1 a washer or disk 54 4which is slightly conical in shape so that its outer edge is spaced away from the resilient material. As the inner member moves downwardly, more and more of the surface of the disk 54 will come in contact with the resilient material 1.

The main difference between the device shown in Fig. 23 and the devices ofthe other figures is that the body of the resilient material is formed by several superposed disks. In Fig. 23 two of such disks are shown-one at 1 and the other at 1. The inner member 3 clamps the inner edge portion of both disks and the outer member 8 clamps the outer edge portion of both disks. A thimble55 lits over the end of the neck on the inner member 3 and has a horizontal flange portion 56 which lies between the two disks 1 and 1. The lower edge of the thimble 56 may have a small flange 57 which is clamped between the washer 5 and the turned over edge 6 of the inner 'tubular member. ln'this way the inner tubular member is not only clamped to the composite body of resilient material but it is also clamped to the thimble 55. 1n this type of device when the inner member moves downwardly relative to the outer member a. bending action takes place in the upper disk 1, as in theJ figures previously described, whilethe downward movement of the flange 56 causes a compression to take place in the disk 1. If the inner member 3 moves upwardly relative to the outer member, the movement of the flange 56 causes a compression in the disk 1 while the bending action takes place in disk 1. 0f course the bending action in the disks may also cause some compression of the material in certain parts of the disks. The bending action is, therefore, supplemented by a compressing action which may be made as great or little as desired to give the device the desired action by properly designing the parts. The lower 4disk 1 preferably has openings 58 which permit the rubber to flow when this disk is placed under compression.v

The corners of the Idisks may be rounded at 59 to provide a clearance in( o which the rubber may flow when the disks are compressed. By properly shaping the outer sheet metal member additional clearances may be provided to allow the rubber to flow as shown at 60 and 61. rlhis device may be made to function in a special way'by making one disk thicker than the other as shown in the drawings, or by making them out of rubber of different densities. Under these circumstances when tlie device is in one position its action will be somewhat different from its action when turned upside down.

In all of the figures so inner member may be attached to one of the objects by the use of a detachable plug member, but if desired the inner member may be shaped of a screw or the like 62. In this case the plug portion of the outer sheet metal member preferably houses a nut 63 having a threaded central opening adapted to receive a screw 64. This type of'devicevmay be attached tothe object by first inserting a screw driver through the opening of the nut 63 and as shown in Fig. 24 to receive the head l far described the .sheet metal. This nut forms a part of the fastening means for attaching the inner member to one of the objects.

A feature common to all of the devices shown in the drawings, including those shown in Figs. 24 and 25, is that at least one of the members is shaped to form a cup to receivea portion of the attaching means for that member. The ortion of the attaching means thus receive by the cup is permanently retained by the cup in the case of Figs. 24 and 25 but in the other figures it isin the nature of a plug which is detachable from the corresponding cup or socket of theshockabsorbing device.

While the drawings show the inner and outer sheet metal members clamped to the body of resilient material in a manner which I believe to'be very simple and highly efficient, *nevertheless they may be clamped to the resilient materialv in other ways.

iIt will now beseen that the device is extremely simple in construction. Most of the metallic parts are pressed or drawn from sheet metal thus enabling the device to be sold at very low cost. It is so constructed that it may be attached to various ob'ects in al number of dierent ways thus making it capable of many different uses. While it may be made in any desired size I prefer to make it about the size of a half dollar thus making the cost low and making it serviceable for use in connection with such objects as typewriters, motors, radio sets and loudspeakers and any other' object where it is desired to absorb shocks or vibrations or to deaden the ltransmission of sounds, or to resilo uter edge portion of the disk and-having n` part in contact with the inner edge portion of the disk whereby relative movement between the inner and outer portions of the disk in an axial direction is permitted and means for attaching said members to said objects comprising a plug member adapted to be secured to one of the objects, one of said members being shaped to form a socket for the reception of the plug of said plug member.

2. A resilient device adapted to be interposed between two objects, comprising a per- .Eorated disk of non-metallic resilient material, a sheet metal member clamped to the inner'edge portion of said disk, an outer sheet metal member clamped to the outer edge portion of the disk, the outer member being shaped to form a plug and the inner member bein shaped to form a socket, said outer memer being perforated to receive a screw or the like by means of which the outer member may be attached to one of the objects and the inner member being tubular to permit the insertion therethrough of a tool to turn said screw.

3. A resilient device adapted to be interposed between two objects, comprising a perforated disk of non-metallic resilient material, a sheetmetal member clamped to the inner edge portion of said disk, an outer sheet metal member clampedto the outer edge portion of the disk, one of said members being shaped to form a socket and the other member being shaped to form a plug, the outside diameter of the plug being approximately the same as the inside diameter of the socket, whereby two or more of the devices maybe snperposed by inserting the plug of one device into the socket of the other.

4. A resilient device adapted to be interposed between two objects, comprising a perforated disk of non-metallic resilient material, a sheet metal member clamped to the outer peripheral portion of the disk, a sheet metal member having a tubular portion extending into the opening of the disk and clamped to the inner edge portion of the disk, said inner sheet metal member extending beyond one side of the disk and there shaped to form a socket, and a sheet metal plug member adapted to be attached to one of the objects and having a portion shaped to form a plug adapted to be received by said socket, said irst named sheet metal member having no part in contact with the inner edge portion of the disk whereby relative movement between the inner and outer portions of the disk in an axial direction is permitted.

5. A resilient device adapted to be interposed between two objects, comprising a perforated disk of non-metallic resilient material, a sheet metal member clamped to the outer peripheral portion of the disk, a sheet metal member having a tubular portion extending into the opening of the disk and clamped to the inner edge portion of the disk,

said inner sheet metal member extending beyond one side of the disk and there shaped to form a socket, anda sheet metal plug member having a portion shaped to form a plug adapted to be received by said socket and also 

